Gianni Infantino’s leadership of FIFA has come under even greater pressure after former Ballon d’Or winner Luis Figo became the first high-profile FIFA Legend to publicly call for the FIFA president’s resignation.
Figo, who has served as one of FIFA’s global ambassadors since Infantino launched the FIFA Legends programme shortly after taking office in 2016, broke ranks with the organisation in a strongly worded attack, accusing the Swiss-Italian administrator of putting personal interests ahead of world football.
The Portuguese icon’s intervention represents another significant blow to Infantino, who is already facing mounting criticism following the collapse of a controversial proposal to create the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) a subsidiary reportedly valued at around $20 billion that would have held FIFA’s commercial rights, including the FIFA World Cup, while selling a 20 per cent stake to outside investors.
Luis Figo won the 2000 Ballon d’Or after glittering spells with Sporting CP, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, where he claimed four Serie A titles, the UEFA Champions League and numerous domestic honours before retiring in 2009. Photocredit: Getty Images
Writing in the Daily Mail, the former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan star made his position unmistakably clear.
“I could write 10,000 words on the problems at FIFA. But the solution needs only three: Infantino must go.”
Figo said the recent developments represented the worst conduct he had witnessed during a lifetime in football.
“I have loved football all my life. I was a professional player for 20 years. And believe me, I have met some rogues in my time in the game. But what I have seen exposed in the last 10 days is the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self interested behaviour I have ever witnessed.”
The comments are particularly significant given Figo’s long standing association with FIFA. Although he initially contested the 2016 FIFA presidential election before withdrawing, he later became one of the most recognizable faces of Infantino’s FIFA Legends initiative.
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Central to Figo’s criticism is the abandoned FFE proposal, which sparked widespread opposition from football associations and senior figures within the game.
Reports surrounding the proposal claimed Infantino would have chaired the new entity, a role reportedly carrying an annual salary of about $30 million.
Figo questioned both the transparency of the process and the motives behind it.
“The man who would do that the man who would try to force through such major changes just to enrich himself and his friends is a relic of the game’s past and should have no part in its future.”
He also criticised FIFA’s handling of discussions surrounding the proposal.
“If it was such a good idea, why not tell your members when you had them all in a room before the World Cup Final? If it was such a robust plan, why not tell your members the risks as well as what you describe as the benefits?”
Jordan Football Association president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein. Photocredit: Reuters
Jordan Football Association president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein recently accused Infantino of “blackmail” while also calling for new leadership at FIFA.
Meanwhile, Infantino has convened an emergency meeting of senior FIFA officials in Rabat, Morocco, as the governing body attempts to steady growing internal tensions following the withdrawal of the commercial proposal.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström has also acknowledged the difficult period facing the organisation, describing recent events internally as “a sad and reproachable series of events.”
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Figo concluded his criticism with perhaps his strongest remarks yet, insisting confidence in the FIFA president had evaporated.
“Infantino has debased the office of FIFA President that he promised to elevate. He has lied, deceived and tried to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve.”
He ended with a direct appeal for change.
“It is too late to save his dignity, but it is not too late to save football. He should go. Now.”
With criticism now coming not only from football administrators but also from one of FIFA’s own global ambassadors, the pressure surrounding Infantino’s presidency appears to be entering a new phase.
